Family matters come first for singer Franky Sahilatua

By Endi Aras

JAKARTA (JP): Franky Sahilatua faced a hard life in his early childhood. The Surabaya port provided enough lessons in this area to the Ambonese boy, who has rarely visited the land of his ancestors. In the Madura neighborhood of Surabaya, the ballad singer began a new life. He chose to live with music.

His two brothers were members of a ship crew in Surabaya, which was understandable because their father worked on ships. The same career choice was expected of Franky: it was just a matter of waiting for his graduation from senior high school. Many youngsters living in the neighborhood planned to work on the ships.

"It is better to work on ships because you can see other countries," his father told him when he was an adolescent. As a youngster he was sometimes not given the choice of following his own wishes. Luckily his mother's instinct spoke up.

"I was about to work with a ship's crew but my mother was against it. She told me to stay at home. At that time I started playing the guitar," Franky recalled.

It was not his wish to disobey his parents. After all in one's adolescent years one often cannot choose what one wants to do. But traditional ties sometimes help in making one's decision, as in the case of Franky Sahilatua. He remembered the motto for people of the eastern part of Indonesia: "Men must leave their home area (to seek a better living)."

Those words aroused a strong-seated desire in Franky not to remain idle. As a young man he felt that he must indeed travel. When he was over his adolescent period, and with some guitar playing experience under his belt, the young man born in Surabaya on Aug. 16, 1953, started to wander about. "I left Surabaya and traveled by train to the Jakarta harbor," he said.

Franky was not a cry baby. The hardships he faced at Surabaya's harbor had given him enough experience to face life as a man. When he was at the Academy of Accountancy in Surabaya, he felt the urge to travel. "I could go 20 times to Jakarta without begging my parents for money. I also paid for my college fees from my singing. What was clear: I had to function in a balanced way. The functions of a child and that of a man," Franky said, recalling his younger years.

His life as a singer was not as lucky and easy as is imagined by people these days. A long time before the coming of the music industry in Indonesia, Franky's name was already well-known. Some people who know his said that Franky's endurance made him a famous singer. Franky was not reluctant to make ends meet by holding down all kinds of jobs, for example working as a security guard in Jakarta's downtown Glodok area.

"At that time it was very difficult to enter the recording industry. For days I had to wait in Glodok, from morning till night. I arrived before the shops opened and I went home after they closed. But I learned a lot from the experience."

Who doesn't not know the songs Bis Kota (City Bus) and Perjalanan (Travel) created by the ballad singer who liked to call himself a troubadour or wayfarer? Those were the songs that brought Franky Sahilatua fame as a singer. He even introduced the talent of his sister Jane on a number of albums. At the time, his ballads were very popular, his lyrics poetical and cool. Franky & Jane spoke to the people's hearts.

The arrival on the scene of Iwan Fals and his acquaintanceship with Ian Antono led Franky to drop his characteristic melodies and lyrics. Franky, Iwan and Ian worked together several times on songs like Terminal and Orang Pinggiran (Marginalized People). Franky was being carried away by the current. His erstwhile cool lyrics were changing. This was influenced by the conditions of the people he often met. His socializing was no longer limited to fellow singers and musicians. Franky had entered a different territory. He joined M.H. Ainun Nadjib on the album Perahu Retak (Cracked Boat), for example.

He wanted to know many things about the world and industry of music. His frequent visits to Glodok to see the development of the music industry meant that Franky was never inactive for long. Through the Ken Project, the recording company he established, he produced a number of albums for singers.

An acquaintanceship with Ainun Najib brought Franky into contact with Nahdlatul Ulama's then chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, popularly known as Gus Dur, at the launching of the Perahu Retak album here a few years ago. The new acquaintanceship did not stop there. When Abdurrahman launched the album Perbincangan Demokrasi (Discussions on Democracy) it was Franky who was willing to circulate the cassettes using his own contacts.

The relationship with Abdurrahman continued. Without the knowledge of many people, Franky often went to Abdurrahman's house in Ciganjur. When Abdurrahman was hospitalized at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital some time ago Franky went to the hospital, although he was not allowed to see his friend because of the latter's condition.

In the world of artists Franky is known as somebody who gets along with others, as well as always being keen to lend a helping hand. When singer Farid Hardja was in a coma at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Franky along with Chandra Darusman took the initiative to take care of everything. The next day when Farid Hardja died, Franky accompanied the deceased's family to the cemetery. At his own initiative he called fellow artists. Some journalists even learned of the news from him.

Franky's many different activities could appear to be conflicting. When students incessantly demanded reform, Franky was nearly always with them. Through his songs and lyrics he entertained students and other young people, going from one stage to another.

When the election campaign fever hit the country, Franky also took part in the activities. He didn't just join one party, he joined at least three: the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the National Mandate Party (PAN). "I remain nonpartisan because I have my own space, i.e. music. I express my vision of nationality through music. The important thing is that humans can develop their talent optimally," Franky explained.

He admits he cannot be sure whether he will enter politics, considering his closeness to political figures like Abdurrahman, the fourth President of the Republic of Indonesia. "I do not know what tomorrow will bring. Humans change all the time. But I still remain nonpartisan," Franky said diplomatically.

Apart from his association with a wide range of people, this father of two, Ken Noorca, 16, and Hugo Delano, 12, has a lot of work. "I have done all kinds of work in the music world. I have been a composer, singer, producer, distributor, supervisor, video clip producer and also operator. It is because I want to know all about my world. I have artists' blood and workers' bones."

Franky has thought about and evaluated the development of the music industry in Indonesia. "Our music industry started from a system of speculation. Initially the actors and pioneers were speculators. This was the case until three or four years ago. Currently, efforts to bring order to the music industry is happening in the presence of foreign investors.

"However, I see that our producers who cooperate with foreign investors are only money agents. The management is good. There is synergy between the professional management which is brought by foreign investors and the management created by the climate of speculators, which has so far been conducted by local producers. For me what is more important is a concept, i.e. that the Indonesian market becomes the main objective. The Indonesian market is a potential one. If the objective is only the market it will reduce the space for Indonesian artists. I will fight for it -- by the methods that we use in the music world," said Franky.

Considering his early debut in the music world, Franky Sahilatua has experienced many choices in the field. As well as selecting different types of work which suited him, he never has appeared to get stuck in just one aspect of the field. In this area, it is useful to consider his response following sad events. His sadness is described in his new songs.

Mourning

In his album Keroncong Belasungkawa (Melody of Mourning) Franky wanted to describe a nation in darkness that was shrouded by black fog. He sang Keroncong Belasungkawa in 1983. "Today the song has again found its relevance," he said.

In translating the meaning of Keroncong Belasungkawa he used an example from the Western world. He says that in the West to express something one uses the ballad. The keroncong in this work is meant as a ballad, not keroncong as a form of traditional music. Belasungkawa is an expression to describe a specific situation -- bitterness experienced by the people because the constellation of politics does not run as it should. He has a great desire to study political nuances and bitterness is often present in his latest works. They are different from the time when Franky sang ballads with Jane. What they imagined at the time was a life which gradually turned happier.

Does the launching of the album Keroncong Belasungkawa and his activities on the periphery of the political world indicate that Franky has changed? Franky adheres to a Javanese saying, Ngglinding Semprong. "It means 'wherever the current carries me'."

"Commitment is the important thing. Concepts may change but we hold on to commitments. In my journey of life, I always cross the boundary, crossing the boundaries of parties or even religions," said the husband of Harwanti Ningroem.

Franky Sahilatua, a troubadour moving across many worlds, is not afraid to make many interesting statements about music and politics.

Despite his many activities, the ballad singer who is afraid to travel by airplane always gives precedence to his family. "I am surprised why so many people get divorced. Unsuitability is a risk. Children should not be the victims. In my activities the harmony in the family is maintained. I see to it. That is my capital to go further," he said.

Franky, who recently established the Foundation for Environmental Concerns, said his family and children are always the priority in his life. "I myself am number 15 or 16 on the list of priorities. Number one is the family," said Franky.

These are not just empty words. Franky is continually supportive of his children, and assists them to channel their creativity. For example, his eldest son Ken Noorca, who is still in junior high school, was interested in photography. So Franky took him to the Antara Gallery. There Ken became a member of the Antara Club. According to Franky, Ken's progress is extraordinary. "He will shortly hold an exhibition with his friends. He is the youngest member," Franky said proudly.

And what of his relationship with his wife? Franky was all smiles. "My wife is my play mate." He suggested that if people wanted to know about the relation between himself and his wife, they listened again to Elton John's song Friend. "How young lovers start as a friend..."